Today Rich Lowry once again tries to sell the notion of Jeb in 2012. Lowery thinks that the Bush name has been sufficiently rehabilitated and that time is running out for Jeb. Lowry also writes a real knee slapper with this line:
National Review: 7) Jeb can unite the party. Jeb probably has a better chance to unite the establishment and Tea Party wings of the GOP than anyone else, certainly a better chance than Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney would seem to have at this juncture. The establishment would presumably flock to Jeb, while he’d have a record of solid conservative accomplishment to sell to the conservative base. Some tea partiers will have zero interest in another Bush, and Jeb will take his lumps on immigration (at NR, we’ll look forward to administering some of them, and trying to change his mind). It’s a very volatile environment, and were he to run, much would obviously depend on how he actually campaigned. But he would stand a good chance of avoiding a damaging division in the party.Jeb could unite the party better than Palin or Romney? Come on Lowry, this is pure fantasy. The base has made it quite clear they are washing their hands of moderates like Bush, Romney and the rest of the soggy cucumber sandwiches. Jeb's brand of conservatism is not so great that it can over come his stance on immigration, so where does Lowry get the idea that Jeb could unite the party?
Once Obama and the Democrats began the fundamental transformation of America and conservatives took to the streets, wishy washy moderates like Jeb became obsolete. If the National Review continues to cling to such outdated candidates, then the National Review may very well find themselves obsolete as well.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: National Review
Via: Hillbuzz